OF  THE 

U N I VERS  ITY 
Of  ILLINOIS 


anif 


COMPILED  BY 

Martha  Brotherson  Reynolds, 

Peoria,  Illinois. 


I heard,  the  hells  on  Christmas  day 
Their  own  familiar  carols  play, 

And  wild  and  sweet 
The  words  repeat 

Of  peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  men. 

Longfellow. 


3.  VJ.  Franks  $ Sons,  EUblishei^s,  Eeoi^ia,  Illinois. 


COPYRIGHT  1886. 


27 Feb.  43  g Mrs.  B ClarJK 


COMPILED  BY 


ptartlta  $votlx zx&ow  mzynolfr*. 


The  King’s  Daughter. 
Songs  in  the  Night. 
Oil  of  Joy  for  Mourning. 
Eastertide. 


Thanksgiving. 

Merry  Christmas  and  Happy  New  Year. 
Merry  Christmas  to  the  Children. 

Blessings  on  the  Baby. 
Birthday  Thoughts  and  Greetings. 
Marriage  Bells. 


J.  W FRANKS  & SONS  PUBLISHERS,  PEORIA,  ILLINOIS. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/merrychristmashaOOreyn 


^crrx£$2D£X 


Christmas,  Merry  Christmas!  Is  it  really  come  again 
With  its  memories  and  greetings,  with  its  joy  and 
with  its  pain. 

There’s  a minor  in  the  carol,  and  a shadow  in  the  light, 
And  a spray  of  cypress  twining  with  the  holly  wreath  to-night. 
And  the  hush  is  never  broken  by  laughter  light  and  low 
As  we  listen  in  the  starlight  to  the  bells  across  the  snow. 

0 Christmas,  Merry  Christmas!  ’Tis  not  so  very  long 
Since  other  voices  blended  with  the  carol  and  the  song! 

If  we  could  but  hear  them  singing  as  they  are  singing  now, 

If  we  could  but  see  the  radiance  of  the  crown  on  each  dear  brow, 
There  would  be  no  smile  to  smother,  no  hidden  tear  to  flow, 

As  we  listen  in  the  starlight  to  the  bells  across  the  snow. 


Frances  Ridley  Uavergal. 


there  were  in  the  same  country  shepherds  abiding  in 
the  field,  keeping  watch  over  their  flocks  by  night. 

And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came 'upon  them,  and 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round  about  them;  and 
they  were  sore  afraid. 

And  the  angel  said  unto  them,  Fear  not:  for  behold,  I bring 
you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to  all  people. 

For  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a Saviour, 
which  is  Christ  the  Lord. 

And  this  shall  be  a sign  unto  you;  Ye  shall  find  the  babe 
wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  lying  in  a manger. 

And  suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a multitude  of  the 
heavenly  host  praising  God,  and  saying, 

Glory  to  God  in  the  highest, ’and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  to- 
ward men. 


I/uke  ii,  8-15. 


| HAT  was  the  first  angelic  word 

That  the  startled  shepherds  heard? 

J^Fear  not!  behold  it  comes  to  you 

As  -a  Christmas  message,  most  sweet  and  true. 
As  true  for  you  as  it  was  for  them 


: night, 

When  the  glory  dazzled  their  mortal  sight. 


The  shepherds  sing,  and  shall  I silent  be? 

My  soul ’s  a shepherd,  too;  a flock  it  feeds 
Of  thoughts,  and  words,  and  deeds. 

The  pasture  is  Thy  word;  the  streams  thy  grace 
Enriching  all  the  place. 

Shepherd  and  flock  shall  sing,  and  all  my  powers 
Outsing  the  daylight  hours. 


Frances  Ridley  Haver  gal. 


George  Herbert. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OE  HLIN01S 


OOD  tidings!  Good  tidings! 

The  world  is  old  and  sad, 

’£3 We  need  the  blessed  Christmas  tide 
To  make  us  young  and  glad! 

To  darkened  eyes  that  saw  through  tears 
Their  hearth -lights  fade  and  die, 

This  holy  radiance  appears  — 

The  dayspring  fronton  high. 


Good  tidings!  Good  tidings! 

The  music  shall  not  cease. 

He  came  to  guide  our  wayward  feet 
Into  the  way  of  peace. 

Chime  tuneful  bells,  and  loudly  ring, 
To  hail  the  Christmas  morn; 
Awake  all  Christian  souls  and  sing, 
To  us  a child  is  born. 


Anonymous. 


rC^ffl^Dncn. 


(Jliristmas  f^ejoieing. 


ft 


INGr  out  in  joyful  chorus, 

In  numbers  sweet,  oh  earth! 
Chant  forth  in  loud  hosannas, 
Our  royal  Savior’s  birth. 
Over  the  mount  and  valley, 
O’er  forest  and  o’er  plain, 
Awake  the  old,  old  story 
In  loftiest  notes  again. 


Down  through  the  vanished  ages, 
Along  the  shores  of  time, 

Like  streams  of  silvery  beauty, 

We  hear  its  echoed  chime. 
Millions  of  silent  voices 

Have  joined  the  glorious  hymn, 
Glad  eyes  have  caught  its  rapture. 
Whose  light  in  death  is  dim. 


To-day  we  stand  with  Shepherds 
Beneath  Judea’s  skies; 

We  hear  from  Heaven's  high  portals 
Triumphant  strains  arise. 

We  watch  the  star  whose  brightness 
Doth  guide  them  safely  — where 
With  deepest  awe  and  wonder 
They  find  Messiah  there. 


F.  B.  M.  Brothcrson. 


QPiristmas  Bells. 


e* 


AR  are  the  sounds  of  the  Christmas  chimes 
In  the  land  of  the  ivied  towers, 

And  they  welcome  the  dearest  of  festival  times 
In  this  western  world  of  ours! 

Bright  on  the  holly  and  misletoe  bough, 

The  English  firelight  falls, 

And  bright  are  the  wreathed  evergreens  now 
That  gladden  our  own  home  walls. 

And  hark!  the  first  sweet  note  that  tells 
The  welcome  of  the  Christmas  Bells. 


They  are  ringing  to-night  through  the  Norway  firs, 
And  across  the  Swedish  fells, 

And  the  Cuban  palm  tree  dreamily  stirs 
To  the  sound  of  those  Christmas  Bells! 

They  ring  where  the  Indian  Granges  rolls 
Its  flood  through  the  rice  fields  wide; 

They  swell  the  far  hymns  of  the  Lapps  and  Poles, 
To  the  praise  of  the  Crucified. 

Sweeter  than  the  tones  of  the  ocean’s  shells, 
Mingles  the  chimes  of  the  Christmas  Bells. 


The  years  come  not  back  that  have  circled  away 
With  the  past  of  the  Eastern  land, 

When  he  plucked  the  corn  on  the  Sabbath  day, 
And  healed  the  withered  hand; 

But  the  bells  shall  join  in  a joyous  chime 
For  the  one  who  walked  the  sea, 

And  ring  again  for  the  better  time 
Of  the  Christ  that  is  to  be! 

Then  ring!  for  earth’s  best  promise  dwells 
In  ye,  0 joyous  prophet  bells! 


Anonymous. 


Qhrisfs  iSirifid&y. 


OW  did  they  keep  His  birthday  then, 

The  little  fair  Christ  so  long  ago? 

0 many  there  were  to  be  housed  and  fed, 

And  there  was  no  place  in  the  inn  they  said, 
So  into  the  manger  the  Christ  must  go, 

To  lodge  with  the  cattle,  and  not  with  men. 


The  ox  and  the  ass  they  munched  their  hay, 

They  munched,  and  they  slumbered,  wondering  not, 
And  out  in  the  midnight  cold  and  blue, 

The  shepherds  slept,  and  the  sheep  slept  too, 

Till  the  angel’s  song  and  the  bright  star  ray, 

Guided  the  wise  men  to  the  spot. 


But  only  the  wise  men  knelt  and  prayed, 
And  only  the  shepherds  came  to  see, 
And  the  rest  of  the  world  cared  not  at  all 
For  the  little  Christ  in  the  oxen’s  stall. 

And  we  are  angry  and  amazed 
That  such  a dull,  hard  thing  should  be. 


OW  do  we  keep  Christ’s  birthday  now? 

We  r*n^  ^e^s’  an(^  we  ra*se  ^ie  s^rain' 
We  hang  up  garlands  everywhere, 

And  bid  the  tapers  twinkle  fair, 

And  feast  and  frolic,  and  then  we  go 
Back  to  the  same  old  lives  again. 


Are  we  no  better,  then,  than  they 

Who  failed  the  new-born  Christ  te  see. 
To  them  a helpless  babe  — to  us 
He  shines  a Savior  glorious, 

Our  Lord,  our  Friend,  our  All — yet  we 
Are  half  asleep  this  Christmas  day. 


Susan  Coolidge. 


HRISTMAS  gifts  for  thee, 

Fair  and  free, 

=§§§£.  Precious  things  from  the  heavenly  store, 
Filling  thy  casket  more  and  more. 

Golden  love  in  divinest  chain 
That  never  can  be  untwined  again; 
Silvery  carols  of  joy  that  swell 
Sweetest  of  all  in  the  heart’s  lone  cell. 


Pearls  of  peace  that  were  sought  for  thee 
In  the  terrible  depths  of  a fiery  sea; 

Diamond  promises  sparkling  bright, 
Flashing  in  farthest  reaching  light. 
Christmas  gifts  for  thee, 

Grand  and  free; 

Christmas  gifts  from  the  King  of  love, 

Brought  from  His  royal  home  above. 

Brought  to  thee  in  a far-off  land, 

Brought  to  thee  from  his  own  dear  hand, 
Promises  held  by  Christ  for  thee, 

Peace  as  a river  flowing  free. 

Joy  that  in  His  own  joy  must  live, 

And  love  that  infinite  Love  can  give; 

Surely  thy  heart  of  hearts  uplifts 
Carols  of  praise  for  such  Christmas  gifts. 

Frances  Ridley  Haver yal. 


is  the  Christmas  time 

And  up  and  down  twixt  Heaven  and  Earth 
In  the  glorious  grief  and  solemn  mirth 
The  shining  angels  climb. 

I.  M.  Mulock. 

Christ’s  Birthday!  soft  come  floating  down 
The  manger  songs  from  bygone  years: 

Till  earth’s  white  robe  new  glory  wears, 

And  brightly  in  her  shining  crown 
Each  lonely  star  a guide  appears. 


Our  Birthday!  If  we  wake  to  life, 

The  life  that  ever  moveth  on, 

That  knows  no  change  of  time  or  death, 
But  like  a calm  stream  ’mid  earth’s  strife, 
Mirrors  the  heaven  it  looks  upon. 


Lydia  L.  A.  Very. 


BE  who  have  scorned  each  other, 

1 

I Or  injured  friend  or  brother 
In  this  fast  fading  year; 
Ye,  who  by  word  or  deed, 

Have  made  a kind  heart  bleed, 
Come  gather  here! 


Let  sinned  against  and  sinning, 
Forget  their  strife’s  beginning, 
And  join  in  friendship  now. 
Be  links  no  longer  broken, 

Be  sweet  forgiveness  spoken 
Under  the  Holly  bough. 


Charles  Mackay. 


Christmas  Outcasts. 


HRIST  died  for  all;  and  on  the  hearts  of  all 
Who  gladly  decorate  their  cheerful  homes  . 
At  Christmas  tide,  this  blessed  truth  should  fall, 
That  they  may  mix  some  honey  with  the  gall 
Of  those  to  whom  a Christmas  never  comes. 


The  poor  are  everywhere  in  Nature’s  course, 

Yet  they  may  still  control  some  sweetened  crumbs, 
No  matter  what  they  lack  in  heart  or  purse, 

But  there  are  those  whose  better  fate  is  worse, 

To  whom  no  day  of  Christmas  ever  comes. 


Christ  died  for  all;  He  came  to  find  the  lost, 

Whether  they  bide  in  palaces  or  slums, 

No  matter  how  their  lines  of  life  are  crossed, 

And  they  who  love  him  best  will  serve  him  most 
By  helping  those  to  whom  no  Christmas  ever  comes. 

Anonymous. 


Christmas  ^oses. 


gave  into  a brown  and  tired  hand 
A stem  of  roses,  sweet  and  creamy  white. 

I know  the  bells  rang  merry  tunes  that  night, 

For  it  was  Christmas  time  throughout  the  land, 
And  all  the  skies  ware  hung  with  lanterns  bright. 

The  brown  hand  held  my  roses  gracelessly, 

They  seemed  more  white  within  their  dusky  vase; 

A scarlet  wave  suffused  the  woman’s  face. 

My  hands  so  seldom  hold  a flower,  said  she, 

I think  the  lovely  things  feel  out  of  place. 

Oh,  tired  hands,  that  are  unused  to  flowers  ! 

Oh,  feet,  that  tread  on  nettles  all  the  way ! 

God  grant  His  peace  may  fold  you  round  to-day, 

And  cling  in  fragrance  when  these  Christmas  hours, 
With  all  their  mirthfulness,  have  passed  away. 


Mrs.  May  Riley  Smith. 


OME  say  that  ever  ’gainst  that  season  comes 
Wherein  our  Savior’s  birth  is  celebrated, 

The  bird  of  dawning  singeth  all  night  long. 

And  then,  they  say,  no  spirit  dares  stir  abroad ; 

The  nights  are  wholesome:  then  no  planets  strike, 
No  fairy  takes,  nor  witch  has  power  to  charm, 

So  hallowed  and  so  gracious  is  the  time. 

Shakespeare 


Do  the  angels  know  the  blessed  day, 

And  strike  their  harps  anew? 

Then  may  the  echo  of  their  lay 
Float  sweetly  down  to  you, 

And  fill  your  soul  with  Christmas  song, 

That  your  heart  shall  echo  your  whole  life  long. 


Frances  Ridley  Havergal. 


Christmas  (Jarol. 


OME  and  see 

The  cause  why  things  thus  fragrant  be; 
^SS^’Tis  He  is  born,  whose  quickening  birth 
Gives  life  and  lustre,  public  mirth, 

To  Heaven  and  the  under  earth. 


We  see  Him  come,  and  know  Him  ours, 
Who,  with  His  sunshine  and  His  showers, 
Turns  all  the  patient  ground  to  flowers. 


The  nobler  part 

Of  all  the  house  here  is  the  heart, 
Which  we  will  give  Him,  and  bequeath 
This  holly  and  this  ivy  wreath, 

To  do  Him  honor,  who’s  our  King, 

And  Lord  of  all  this  revelling. 


Robert  Herrick. 


T is  His  birthday  — His,  the  only  one 

Who  ever  made  life’s  meaning  wholly  plain, 


Dawn  is  He  to  our  night. 


Lucy  Larcom. 


No  longer  vain 
And  purposeless  our  onward  struggling  years, 
The  hope  He  bringeth  overfloods  our  fears. 


Lucy  Larcom. 


He  is  a path,  if  any  be  misled; 

He  is  a robe,  if  any  naked  be; 

If  any  chance  to  hunger,  He  is  bread, 

If  any  be  a bondsman,  He  is  free. 

To  dead  men  life,  He  is  to  sick  men  health, 

To  blind  men  sight,  and  to  the  needy  wealth, 

A pleasure  without  loss,  a treasure  without  stealth. 

Giles  Fletcher. 


is  Qfiristm&s  pay. 


IS  Christmas  Day!  Glad  voices 
Repeat  the  pleasant  sound; 

And  happy  faces  in  our  home, 

And  loving  looks  abound. 

Why  do  we  thus  greet  Christmas  morn  ? 

It  is  the  day  that  Christ  was  horn. 

With  little  gifts  that  tell  our  love, 

With  garlands  on  the  wall, 

With  thankful  hearts  and  helpful  hands, 
We  keep  a festival. 

Why  do  we  thus  keep  Christmas  morn? 

It  is  the  day  that  Christ  was  born. 


Fulljeighteen  hundred  years’ago 
Christ  Jesus  came  on  earth, 

He  came,  He  lived,  He  died  for  us, 
We  thank  God  for  his  birth; 

And  therefore  we  keep  Christmas  morn, 
The  day  our  Savior  Christ  was  born. 


Christ  healed  the  sick,  and  helped  the  poor, 
When  He  was  on  the  earth; 

Do  what  you'can  to  be  like^Him 
The  morning  of  His  birth. 

Help  some  one  to  keep  Christmas  morn, 

The  day  your  Savior  Christ  was  born. 

Hymns  for  Children. 


^crTnrrrYrYYTrrjS 

iOD  bless  the  master  of  the  house, 
The  mistress  also, 

3 And  all  the  little  children 
That  round  the  table  go. 

And  all  your  kin  and  kinsfolks, 
That  dwell  both  far  and  near, 
I wish  you  a merry  Christmas, 
And  a Happy  New  Year. 


Anonymous. 


Opon  the  threshold. 


NCE  more  we  stand  with  half  reluctant  feet, 
Upon  the  threshhold  of  another  year, 
jSS  That  line  where  Past  and  Present  seem  to  meet 
- In  stronger  contrast  than  they  do  elsewhere. 


Look  back  a moment  — does  the  prospect  please, 
Or  does  the  weary  heart  but  sigh  regret? 

Can  recollection  smile,  or  ill  at  ease 

With  what  is  past,  wish  only  to  forget? 


Here  ends  the  chequered  page  of  prose  and  verse, 
Of  shapely  words  and  lines  writ  all  awry; 

There  they  must  stand  for  better  or  for  worse, 

So  shut  the  book,  and  bid  the  year  good  bye. 

Anonymous. 


REAK,  break,  break, 

On  thy  cold  gray  stones,  0 sea ! 
gAnd  I would  that  my  tongue  could  utter 
The  thoughts  that  arise  in  me. 

Oh  well  for  the  fisherman’s  boy 

That  he  shouts  with  his  sister  at  play ! 

Oh  well  for  the  sailor  lad 

That  he  sings  in  his  boat  on  the  bay. 

And  the  stately  ships  go  on 
To  their  haven  under  the  hill, 

But  oh  for  the  touch  of  a vanished  hand; 
And  the  sound  of  a voice  that  is  still. 


Break,  break,  break, 

At  the  foot  of  thy  crags,  0 sea  ! 

But  the  tender  grace  of  a day  that  is  dead 
Will  never  come  back  to  me. 


Tennyson. 


/ 


LD  year  good-bye  ! old  year  good-bye  ! 
For  what  it  brought,  for  what  it  takes 
^^^%3We  love  it  and  for  loved  one’s  sake, 
Prized  for  the  hours  of  happiness, 

Nor  for  its  sacred  sorrows  less, 

For  all  it  gave  through  toil  and  strife 


Of  new  significance  to  life. 


W.  H.  Burleigh. 


Life’s  shadows  are  meeting  eternity's  day. 

J.  G.  Clarke. 


The  yesterdays  look  backward  with  a smile. 

Young. 


2WD 


A fsfew  Year. 


Icrx^rxircxTcxicrfQ 

ELCOME,  0 New  Year,  with  stainless  white  pages, 
Though  we  may  blot  them  ere  long  with  our  tear 
So  it  has  been  through  the  long-passing  ages, 

Worn  with  the  footprints  of  close  crowding  years 
Welcome  sweet  year!  may  the  full -handed  hours 
Find  us  like  servants  who  wait  for  their  Lord, 
Using,  with  earnest  devotion,  our  powers, 

Looking  for  Him,  and  obeying  his  word. 


Anonymous. 


HAT  shall  I wish  thee?  Treasures  of  earth, 
Songs  in  the  springtime,  pleasures  and  mirth, 
AgFlowers  on  thy  pathway,  skies  ever  clear, 
Would  this  ensure  thee  a Happy  New  Year? 


What  shall  I wish  thee?  What  can  be  found 
Bringing  the  sunshine  all  the  year  round? 
Where  is  the  treasure,  lasting  and  dear, 

That  shall  ensure  thee  a Happy  New  Year? 


Faith  that  increaseth  walking  in  light, 

Hope  that  aboundeth,  happy  and  bright, 

Love  that  is  perfect,  casting  out  fear, 

These  shall  ensure  thee  a Happy  New  Year. 

Peace  in  the  Savior,  rest  at  His  feet, 

Smile  of  His  countenance,  radiant  and  sweet, 

Joy  in  his  presence!  Christ  ever  near! 

This  will  ensure  thee  a Happy  New  Year. 

Frances  Ridley  llavergal. 


0 long  Thy  power  has  blest  me,  sure  it  still 
Will  lead  me  on, 

SO’er  moor  and  fen,  o’er  crag  and  torrent  till 
The  night  is  gone; 

And  with  the  morn  those  angel  faces  smile 
Which  I have  loved  long  since  and  lost  awhile. 

Cardinal  Newman. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


